Matt's letter for April 25,2011

Hi Family!

Well, i'm excited for the blanket! It's chilly! Send my thanks and love to Natalie. SHE"S THE BOMB!

I got the Easter package! Kaylynn sent one on thursday, and i got yours on friday. What a great surprise! I love the cadbury eggs! :) :)

I got my shoes! THANK YOU!!! We went to ventura on tuesday for transfer meeting, and we went to the office and picked it up. I love them! They look so good, and WAY more comfortable than the clarks. Oh and i'm staying in Carp.

Umm... this week...... Well here goes. Monday was great, we got to talk to some members and investigators because E Manning was going. On tuesday we got Elder Searcy and had an awesome day! Wednesday we went to The grace's for dinner (She's a member, he's not, married since september), and they informed us thet they will be moving to Georgia in a month. I was super bummed! I love them too much!! It was cool, because bro grace hugged me when we were leaving, and i feel like we are FINALLY getting though to them! RRRR! We called the snelling for our thurs. dinner appt. that night, but no answer. Thursday we had district meeting, andthat was really good! I called sis. snelling to check our appt, but no answer still. I called bro snelling, and no answer. When we go home, i parked on the side of the house and felt like i should call sis. snelling again. I called and she answered, "elders..." I said, "Hi Sis. Snelling! How are you doing?" She said not good, and started to sob. Though her sobbing, all i really got was, "Well, i can't really tell you what's going on, but i had to leave. I told Jom about dinner, so he'll take you out." I quickly said, "No, what's wrong?!" She said she had to move all her stuff out and that i would probably never see her again. SHe proceeded to say," Elder Monk, you're a good missionary. You will do so well. I'm glad that I got to know you! Good luck.." By now I was crying pretty hard and told her we would keep in contact, and do what we can to help. Then she hung up. It was about all i could do to get inside. I knelt down to pray, but i was crying to hard to think or say anything. Mom, my heart broke. I cannot describe the pain that i felt. It hurt me so bad to see their family in that much pain! It's weird how much you come to love the people you serve with and around. They were so happy! They loved so much, and loved each other unconditionally. Their love for the gospel permeated their home! Now it's gone. From there, the week went down hill. Appointment after appointment cancelled, and we had trouble filling our shedules. We kept working though! Nothing really too bed, i was just relly sad all week.

Well, sorry for the depressing letter! Hahah! That was really the only hang up thisweek, and elder searcy is awesome! Kindof a social grace (He burps and farts on appointments and talks non stop about alaska and how many stakes they have) but he is really fun! I am learning alot form hime. We are going to Santa Barbara today to get the locks on our car fixed, so that will be an edventure. Love you tons! I gottta go!

love,

Elder Monk

SAM IS A COLLEGE GRADUATE!

Last Thursday, April 21, we drove to Provo to attend Sam's

graduation ceremony on Friday.

Sam did one year of college before his mission and three years after.

He got his degree in Mechanical Engineering, just like his Dad.

We couldn't be more proud.

He did three years at BYU and then transferred to BYU-I because

Hailey, his wife, had a good job here in Blackfoot.

After one year at BYU-I, he transferred those credits to BYU

and applied for graduation.

It truly was a wonderful day!

We are so proud of you both.

He couldn't of done it without his cute wife!

Matt's letter for April 18th, 2011

Mom and Family!!

Weeeelllllllllllllllllllllll, this week was awesome! I will show you part of my president's letter to demonstrate:

Hola Presidente!

Well, this week has been awesome. Our 40 day fast continues! We have been seeing miracles galore in the form of work work and... WORK! It has been glorious! As you can tell by last weeks numbers and this weeks, we have been having alot of lessons and have been getting members present, too. I love it! SOmetimes it seems that we're too busy too fit appointments in. :) I'm all smiles. :)

We met with Brother James (Placencia) and his family this week everyday. They have alot of troubles with alcohol and such, so they need a constant contact. A miracle happened last night!!! We went over to their house, they fed us dinner, and we watched the new Joseph Smith movie with them. Brother James said he was planning on making us watch the playoff of basketball, but had a prompting to watch the movie. We did, and we had a great discussion afterwords. Brother James had alot of legitimate concerns and questions on priesthood authority and prophets, so we did our best to answer them and discuss. While we were talking, he interrupted and said, "I just had a pain in my pancreas (I guess he should have died a while ago from it?), and it was all i could do to keep praying in my heart, and i felt this amazing feeling go through me and the pain was gone. The Holy spirit answered my prayer." WOW. The spirit was so strong, and I know everyone there could feel it! The lord knows us and wants so badly to bless us! It all hinges on our faith! I know this Gospel is true.

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do thigs worth writing." --Benjamin Franklin


I hope you and Sister Murri have a great week, and thank you for the trust you have in me with this coming transfer and Elder Searcy. I will do my best! That's what I promised to do when I sent that acceptance letter to the First Presidency, and I don't intend to do anything less than that.

Love,

Elder Monk

Needless to say, Tomorrow is transfers, and I am follow - up training a newer Elder named Elder Searcy. He's from anchorage, and i will be the senior companion! Usually this doesnt happen until you're alot more experienced than I am, but President just called and said that he trusts me and feels that I am ready to be a trainer. AGH! :) I'm pretty pumped, and it also means i get to drive ! :) HAha! I'm so excited!

Mommy dear, i LOVED the package!!! I am so lucky to have a momma like you! You are the bestest EVER! Always remember that! I just started in the new journal paper, so it came just in time. I love getting mu frie4nds letters, keep doing that! You can also send mine to them, that would be awesome.

Just one request for the easter package... I know you don't like the idea, but i would LOVE LOVE LOVE that comforter! When we transfer, we don't have to have everything in our suitcases, and members take us to and from transfer meetings. (Brother Olmstead took us when i got here in his HUGE van! Haha) I know it soulds like a hassel, but i would love it! You wouldn't want your missionary to be cold at night, would you? *sniff sniff* Haha but you can do whatever you want! I won't be sad if you choose not to.

Well, i think that's all for today. The 40 day fast is going epicly well, Sherry didn't come to church, but she called and said that it was too early (9:30), but she still wants to come, so she'll have to bring alot of coffee. Hehe!

I should get my shoes tomorrow, so thtank you SOOOOO SO SO SO much! I love you.

I hope eveything goes well for ya'll! I loved the Moab pics, and it soulds like you had a ton of fun!! I love you all,

Elder Monk

995 - The SAnta Barbara Zone at a little zone training we had on wednesday.
992 - Our district
991 - ELder Stoecker and I. Mom you would love him. He grew up in England, and moved to VIrginia a couple years ago, so he has a sick accent
994 - Our district mocking Elder Blanchard for going home tomorrow. :( Haha!

Moab - Spring 2011

Just had to share a picture of all the guys that went to Moab

last week. Sounds like they had a great time.

I love the fact that Wynn goes with his boys and

spends some quality time with them doing

something they all love. He is a fantastic

father and husband!

I'm glad they are home and no one got hurt and

all their bikes are in one piece.

I wonder how long it will be until the

weather is good enough for them to go riding

around here?

While husband is away, the wife will play

Wynn, Steve, Sam and six other men went to Moab for some dirt biking riding! They left on Thursday morning and rode late that afternoon. Sounds like they had a great ride on Friday too. Today, I'm sure will be memorable also. They will head for home on Sunday morning. So, while the husband is away, the wife will play.

We got the girls together and did an Easter craft.

Sarah Funk, my sweet niece, Natalie and Hailey.

Oh, don't they make cute bunnies?

Hailey showing off her hard work.

We sure missed Brooke today.

She got to go to Washington to spend some

time with her family.

So happy she could go.

Her sister went with her so she didn't

have to travel alone.

WE love and miss you Brookie!

Hola Mommie!

Well, i loved your letter! Thanks so much for being amazing, and always being there for me. I miss Ems so much! Give her loves from me.

Well this week... Hmmm. What do you want to hear?

We've already had miracles from our 40 day fast. Not one day has been without at least one person (besides us) fasting! Wow! That's a chore! Haha! This last week has seemed so busy, and i think that is because of the fast. We drop in on people all the time, and they invite us in, and we teach a lesson! That hardly ever happens! (And it's rare to be actually BUSY. We had appointments overlapping! I know that doesnt sound good, but it made me pretty happy!!)

We got a referral last monday from a sister in the ward. We contacted her on tuesday, had a lesson, then had another lesson on wednesday. She said she would come to church when we dropped by on saturday, and Sis. Magnussen the relief society pres. went to pick her up. She said she slept late and couldnt come... We'll keep trying though!! She is an artist, and very good! She is very "spiritual" as alot of artists are here... But thats also ok! :)

We went to the placensia's on saturday night to make sure they weren't partying or drinking... and they were. CRAP!! So technically, we went to a party on saturday night. there was alot of jack daniels and beer, but we just has diet coke, so it's ok right? :) Haha no, they were pretty sober. Their uncle JoJo was there, and he was PLASTERED, but was (uncharacteristically) nice to us. Xavier said he was still coming to church with anthony, but they didn't show up. I even texted them, but no answer.. :( We gave them a talk by Hyrum W. Smith, the 1st California Ventura mission pres. about why the Lord chose 1820 to appear to Joseph. It was the only time it could have survived on the earth after the great apostasy! There was NOT religious freedom in america then. It's really good!

I also talked in Sacrament meeting yesterday on the Restoration with a missionary from Lompoc who just got back from the SAlt Lake City North mission. He did really well, and i really liked my talk :)

We had dinner at the Espinoza's last night. Bro Espinoza is from here, and Sister Espinoza is from the North Island in New Zealand! She has the COOLEST accent! I told her that's where sam served, and she lamented his being called to the Southern mission. Haha! They are so cool!

Umm... if you havent sent the package yet, could i ask you a really big favor?? You know that in California, no one isulates their home, unless it's new. So, the homes over about 100 years have no insulation, especially upstairs... Kindof like our home! 131 years old and no insulation. It's been uncharacteristically cold for california, especially at night, and I FREEZE! So I was wondering if you might send that down comforter that Natalie gave me. I know it;s big, but it squishes down REALLY small if you put it in a bag. :) I'm sorry if i ask too much! (Sheepish grin)

Well, it think that's all i have to say! I hope you all know how much I love you and think about you! I'm loving the mission, and i LOVE sharing the Gospel with people! Tell Natalie that i still have the letter she wrote me when she gave me my Preach My Gospel, and that i taped it into it, so i can read it often! I love you all so much! I hope you have a magic week!

Love, Elder Monk

(sorry, no pictures today!)

Matt's letter for April 4, 2011

Hola Mommy! (And familia!)

Well, i got your letter this week. It made my day! Thank you so much. I got it between sessions on Saturday, so it was perfect! So, to answer your questions:
- I got the Line O' Authority. Thank you so much! It looks so cool, and i will cherish it! :)
- My shoes are a 10M, and I will send you a picture. I sent the package on saturday, so you'll get it soon.
- Well, we won't call on our cell phones, we'll be calling from a member's cell phone. But, Elder manning says a calling card would be a good idea just in case.
- The 40 day Fast is going epic! We have been fasting one meal out of the day (lunch) and then breaking the members fast with them at dinner. Alot of members are really catching the vision of it and looking for friends to share the Gsopel with and ways to get involved in the community to "get our name out there". It's awesome!
- Thank yopu so much for the quote!!! It's my favorite, and i am so happy to have it! I teach this lesson where i tie a big knot with string, and it doesnt look like anything, until "The Lord" pulls our looses ands and weaves us a little, so that quote will work well with that.\
- I only have 9 pages of journal paper left, so maybe 13 - 16 days of writing left? I usually only use a page a day, but quite often i use more... So maybe sooner than later? :)


Well this week was pretty good! We had alot of work to do (and a lot of time to do it!). We are moving headlong into our 40 day Fast, and as you know, we are fasting one meal out of the day (lunch) to do our part. We've been working on using that extra hour wisely by getting out and doing more! We did A TON of tracting this week. There is a neighborhood just behing the old Jehovah's Witness church in Carp., and we haven't been up there before, so we did those streets. On Tuesday we tracted for about 3 or 4 hours, and about 5 houses before we called it quits, we found a lady that told us she used to live in Utah and is "not a practicing Mormon". She has a friend in Santa Barbara that is an active member, and she said we could come back and talk to her any time. It totally made all of that time worth it! We gave her an invitation for General Conference and she said, "Oh, good! There's a church in Carp! We've been to the one in Santa Barbara a couple times." So, we hopefully will be doing some work with her soon!

Conference was great! It totally feels like they speak right to me every time. We had our investigators in mind the whole time, and i think we have some great ideas for them! We were hoping to get a couple there, but when we went over to see them between sessions, i think they had been "partying" the night before, and wouldn't come to the door. Their dad said they had to go to his parents house, and they couldn't come. Darn! But, we will keep trying! :)

I guess I never thought much about how all the speakers at Conference prepare their talks. I knew they weren't assigned a topic, but i never realized how inspired they were! I loved Elder Holland's talk on how much the Brethren love us, and how much our support means to them. I also really loved Elder Scott's talk about his wife and how she helped him and how he helped her. It makes sense that they would devote so much to each other! They obviously had an amazing marriage and a joyful time together! What ajoyous reunion beyond the veil! I bet he can't wait. :)

Here's my favorite quote from conference:

"A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return." --Melvin J. Ballard

Godspeed!

Elder Matt Monk]

I hope you all have a great week. Sounds like you had fun on spring break! LUCKY! I wanted to see Phantom of the Opera way bad! Hahah! Sounds like fun. We can go to a play in Santa Barbara when we come back and stay with the Snelling's. (They've already invited me and you guys! They have a bed and breakfast below their house - you would love it! It's 2 rooms and a bathroom and eating area. I'll attach a picture of their backyard!)

Well, keep sending the letter from my firends! I love hearing from them!!!!! And don't quit sending me your letters, too :) Tell STeven Frei congrats for me! That's SO COOL! Here are some pictures! I love you all, and the Gospel is true! I love you -

Elder Monk

Spring Break 2011

I couldn't wait to get away for Spring Break! I just wanted warm weather and no school.

We left Wednesday morning and drove to Mesquite, Nevada. We met our good friends, Kaylynn and Loren Kinghorn there. We went to a nice dinner at a Japanese restaurant there in Mesquite with Lorn's sister and her husband. It was so fun! They cooked our dinner right there in front of us on a huge grill. Oh, it was so good!

On Thursday morning, we drove to Valley of Fire Stake Park. It is real close to Lake Mead. We hiked around and enjoyed the sights.

There were huge lizards there. They would pose and just wait for me to take their picture. Boy, my boys would of loved that when they were young.

Notice all the writings on the wall. . . So interesting.

We then drove over to the Hoover Dam. We got to walk across it. Boy, it is a long way down!

Drum roll please. . . Then what I really wanted to go to Vegas for: we went to The Phantom of the Opera. Oh, it was so awesome! I loved it! I have never been to a Broadway show before so this was HUGE! Oh, it was amazing. So expensive but so cool. I loved not only the music but how fast everything went and the stage was incredible.

We parked at Planet Hollywood and had to walk all the way down to the Venetian where the play was at. Boy, was that a hike but so worth it. So many crazy people. I hate Las Vegas but I loved Phantom.

On Friday, we went to Zion's National Park and hiked. See this trail? We really did hike all the way to the top. Whole new meaning to, "I'm on the to of the World looking down on creation."

Beautiful waterfalls. When I am at places like this, I really miss Matt. He can take the best pictures.

Another waterfall. It was so hot, I loved it. It was in the high 80's. I can't wait for Spring!!!

We just hiked around and enjoyed the beautiful things to see.

We stayed in Kanab on Friday night. Kay, Loran and Riley stayed another night. They wanted to go back to Zion's for another day.

Saturday we drove the L-O-N-G way home. We only made it to Price, Utah. We enjoyed the sites along the way and each other too! We listened to both sessions of conference. Sometimes it was a little weak signal but over all, we heard it all.

It was just beautiful.

We got to about Wellington, UT when it was time for the Priesthood session of conference. So, we drove until we saw a church with cars around it then, Wynn threw on his white shirt, tie and dress shoes and headed on in. I sat in the car and discovered a lot about Wynn's Blackberry. It wasn't too bad. Afterwards, we had a pizza, got a hotel and watched a little T.V. Not to exciting but real relaxing!

I love it when Wynn drives. I just sit and enjoy. I read the whole Ensign, knitted, and even did a little Suduko! It was a great little get away.

We got up Sunday morning and drove home. It snowed coming home. My Spring break is officially over and it is still cold. Oh, remind me why I still live in Idaho?